VICTORIA 4
SPOKANE 1
Now that the Victoria Royals have become the surprise early-season gate-crashers in the Canadian Hockey League top-10 poll 鈥� receiving an honourable mention this week 鈥� it may just take some heavy earth-moving equipment from Fort McMurray to dislodge them.
The youthful Royals defeated the Spokane Chiefs 4-1 on Wednesday night at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre to move to 5-1 on a WHL season that was thought to be a rebuilding campaign. It may yet be. Regardless, these 10 points of a possible 12 from the season-opening six-game homestand, are going to come in handy in March.
鈥淲e wanted to prove people wrong from the get-go,鈥� said Royals goaltender Coleman Vollrath.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 buy the [pre-season] word out about us. We believe we can be a top team in this league.鈥�
Up against the first rainy night of fall, and the Canucks NHL opener, attendance at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre was 2,701, the lowest since the WHL returned to Victoria five years ago. Those who stayed away missed a comprehensive Royals performance.
鈥淚 liked the way we bounced back [from Tuesday鈥檚 3-1 loss to the Chiefs],鈥� said Victoria coach Dave Lowry.
鈥淚t鈥檚 early. We just want to get better every day.鈥�
Goals in the first eight minutes by Tyler Soy, his fourth and fifth of the season, gave Victoria a 2-0 lead. Ethan Price on the power play, with his first of the season after numerous chances over several games, extended the lead to three in the first minute of the second period. Price had two points on a fine all-round night that included some effective play on Victoria鈥檚 league-best penalty kill, which has allowed only one goal in 24 opposition opportunities.
Victoria held the Spokane power play to 0-5 on Wednesday.
鈥淥ur penalty kill bailed us out,鈥� said Lowry.
Meanwhile, Price鈥檚 goal contributed to Victoria鈥檚 league seventh-ranked power play, which went 1-2 last night.
鈥淲e needed to add a veteran [Price was signed during training camp after being let go last season by the Portland Winterhawks] and Ethan Price is turning into one of the great stories,鈥� said Lowry.
Responded Price: 鈥淲hether it鈥檚 penalty kill or power play, I just want to help in any way I can. Getting that first goal of the season tonight was a huge sigh of relief for me.鈥�
Sophomore Victoria forward Dante Hannoun, with his third of what may be a breakthrough season, made it 4-0 with a backhander high into the net at 6:53 of the second. Keanu Yamamoto finally broke through for the Chiefs at 9:00.
The duel in the crease featured a pair of over-age 20-year-olds, with Vollrath and Spokane鈥檚 Garret Hughson making 27 saves each. The result moved Vollrath past former Royals goalkeeper Patrik Polivka for the most wins (57) since the franchise moved to Victoria and three behind Lucas Gore (60) for the all-time Victoria Royals-Chilliwack Bruins franchise record
鈥淚t鈥檚 something I didn鈥檛 really think about, but it鈥檚 kind of cool,鈥� said Vollrath.
The Royals are in Kelowna on Friday to play the defending WHL champion Rockets.
